Foldng berth.



,PATENTBD NOV. '10; 1903.

J. P. LEIN.

FOLDING BERTH.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.17, 1902,

WINIIIIIHIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIlElifilEllllllIllI' i no MODEL,

4 Q avwamlio z adieu W13 1' UNITED STATES Patented November 10, 1903.

JOHN P. LEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING BERTH.

.EJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 743,526, dated November 10, 1903.

Application filed November 17, 1902. Serial No. 131,616. (No model.)

Zo all whom it nwty concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. LEIN, acitizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Berths, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding berths, and particularly to that type of folding berth or bunk used on shipboard.

The objects sought to be obtained are to mount a folding berth so that it can be swung closely against a wall, simplicity, reduced cost of construction, and ease of manipulation. With these objects in View I have devised the following construction, which I will now more particularly describe.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my improved construction. Fig. 2 shows an end view. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end view showing the berth partly folded up. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the hanger, showing its engagement with the bracket; and Fig. 6 is a detail view showing an antifrictionroller on the corner of the berth.

1 represents a berth-frame having attached to the top and bottom bars3 and 4 a hanger, comprising the arms 5 6 7 8, connected by a web 2. The web 2 contains a curved slot 9, having an enlarged lower end 10, through which the headed bolt or trunnion 12 on the bracket is inserted. This slot may be T- shaped in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 5. This form of T-shaped slot, together with the arms 5, 6, 7, and 8, forms a framework and keep the bedclothes away from the bracket and prevent their getting caught in the trunnion. Rigidly attached to a wall or other vertical support at each end of the berth is a bracket 11, carrying at its outer end on the inner face a bolt or trunnion 12, shown as headed,

13 is a smooth slideway or track on which the upper inner corner 14. of the berth slides. In Fig. 6 I have shown this corner as provided with a roller 15 to reduce friction.

The hanger containing theslot is so positioned that when the berth is in a horizontal position the headed bolt 12 will be at the upper inner end :of the curved slot 9 and the rear side of the berth will rest against the track or slideway 13 of the bracket, thus giving the berth firm support.

When it is desired to fold the berth, the front is lifted and the berth swings on the bolt 12 as a pivot or trunnion until the weight of the berth causes it to slide downward on the bolt guided by the curved slot. The upper inner corner 14 will slide downward on the slideway 13 until the lower end 10 of the slot is reached, whereupon sliding movement ceases and the bolt 12 again acts as a pivot or trunnion, permitting the front of the berth to be brought up against the wall. By this construction the berth-frame when folded up may rest closely against a wall or support,

thereby leaving very little projection and in the case' of an upper berth leaving the berth within easy reach, so as to be readily operated.

I do notlimit myself to the precise construction described, as my invention may be comprehended in other constructions than the example I have given.

Having thus describedmy invention, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a folding berth, the combination with two fixed brackets having each a straight guideway and a headed trunnion projecting toward each other, of a berthframe having at each end a hanger comprising arms attached to the berth-frame, and a web supported by the arms, said web havinga curved T-shaped slot extending upwardly from the bottom and toward the rear of the berthframe, said T-shaped slot inclosing the head of the trunnion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN P. LEIN.

Witnesses:

JULIAN S. WOOSTER, HENRY BEST. 

